Gundam is BACK. In 2015, Sunrise will start to release (through RightStuf distribution) the entirety of the Gundam franchise.

January 2015 Editionby Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews!

The Anime Talk Introduction

Welcome back, space cowboys! (Anyone else notice that Cowboy Bebop is finally on Blu-ray?) It's been a while since we last had an Anime Talk column but we have a new compilation ready for everyone to see a sampling of reviews and news over the latest in anime. Find out what we considered to be the best in anime releases in 2014 and what anime releases there are to look forward to in 2015. Also see our breakdown of the latest and most notable anime reviews as featured on DVDTalk.com. (It'll help when deciding on what titles are the best new ones on DVD and Blu-ray for you all to check out).

As per usual, we hope you have fun with the latest Anime Talk! In the words of Vash the Stampede... PEACE!

What Anime Releases to Look for in 2015Presented by WTK

- Chi's Sweet Home (Discotek Media) A short form series (~3-min per episode) of the everyday life of an adorable kitten name Chi. It's a series that is viewable for all ages. Season 2 is streaming on Crunchyroll.

- Lupin the 3rd: Jigen's Gravestone, Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro (Discotek Media) More Lupin anime is getting released in North America. Recently announced Jigen's Gravestone (DVD and Blu-ray) will be Discotek's first anime title to receive an English dub. The Castle of Cagliostro gets a license rescue/re-release on DVD (Blu-ray later on). The movie is directed by Hayao Miyazaki and currently streaming on Hulu.

- SUNRISE properties (FUNimation) We only have seen one SUNRISE property so far (Cowboy Bebop in 2014). Could we see some of the classic titles that were released by Bandai Entertainment? More importantly which of those will get Blu-ray treatment for the first time and/or limited edition releases? Some of those titles include the likes of Banner of the Stars, Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion, Escaflowne, My HiME / My Otome, and Outlaw Star.

- SUNRISE properties (Sentai Filmworks) Just like FUNimation, Sentai Filmworks got a share of SUNRISE licenses that were previously released by Bandai Entertainment. Sentai has yet to release any of the titles since the Otakon 2013 announcement. Will see a few of of the titles (including likes of Infinite Ryvius, s-CRY-ed, The Big O, and Zegapain) releases in 2015 (and will Blu-ray treatment/limit edition release be possible)?

If you want to check some of the anime series before buying (if available), check out legal streaming sites like Crunchyroll and Hulu (U.S. only).

The long awaited arrival of more of the classic and beloved Studio Ghibli films on Blu-ray is a cause for celebration. Whether you import from the Japanese Studio Ghibli line of releases or choose from Disney's domestic stateside releases, bringing more of the awe-inspiring anime masterstrokes from maestro Hayao Miyazaki into a anime collection is surely an easy pick (which one can't be too surprised by!) for a list of the best of the year in anime.

Disney has at last released three of Miyazaki's feature-films to Blu-ray in North American and each one proves to be essential: Princess Mononoke, his Japanese folklore epic, the charming Kiki's Delivery Service, and the bittersweet feature film end to his brilliant career, The Wind Rises.

Subtitle perfectionists should take note that both Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service use dub-based subtitles, and not subtitles based on Hayao Miyazaki's scripts. This means the dub written for Princess Mononoke by the acclaimed Neil Gaiman is included, which some might actually consider a worthy inclusion for the disc, but unfortunately Disney has not included multiple viewing options with two sets of subtitles so that a authentic subtitle option is also provided. The Wind Rises, luckily, is fully preserved with an accurate subtitle translation.

Studio Ghibli of Japan also issued a mammoth set in 2014 containing each of the eleven feature films directed by Hayao Miyazaki across his career: Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, and The Wind Rises.

Each film is presented with a top of the line encoding which is superior to previously released editions worldwide. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind has even been color corrected to the original artwork that was done by the animators who worked on Nausicaa. As previous home media releases included a red off-color tint which was part of the affected source, which had formerly been color-graded incorrectly), this marks the best presentation worldwide.

Â In order to make the most of the film presentations on this special set, the on-disc supplements were dropped (which were not subtitled anyway) and the bit-rates were greatly expanded. The set also contains the early short film by Miyazaki, Yuki's Sun, which served as his directorial debut and which was previously unavailable in any home media release worldwide. Lastly, the set includes 2 rare episodes of the anime program Akado Suzunosuke: both were completely storyboarded by a young Miyazaki.

Regardless of which Blu-ray edition one picks (or perhaps one will even go for multiple editions), bringing more Miyazaki and Ghibli into a home entertainment collection is a significant and splendid thing, indeed.

Â

2) Cowboy Bebop - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Anime fans like to discuss what productions one might consider to be amongst the top echelon of creations. One thing almost all fans of the medium share in common is the feeling that ShinichirÃ´ Watanabe's masterpiece Cowboy Bebop ranks amongst the greatest creations in the history of the filmmaking medium.

The series follows bounty hunters Spike, Faye, Jet, Edward, and their lovable doggie Ein as they traverse across the galaxy on their "Cowboy" missions. This series manages to be that rare show that has it all: heart, intelligence, comedy, genius, action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, suspense, breathtaking animation, and the greatest soundtrack to any anime series (beautifully composed by the brilliant Yoko Kanno). This is one anime series that all fans should make sure to pick up on Blu-ray High Definition. Cowboy Bebop is the most essential anime series ever made and a anime collection missing this gem is certainly incomplete.

Whether series fans went with ordering the Standard Edition, the Funimation.com exclusive with vinyl-like packaging and artcards, or the Amazon.com Exclusive featuring a color and black-and-white artbook and clamshell artbox), Cowboy Bebop remains an essential.

3) Cardcaptor Sakura - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

One of the most beloved of all Shojo anime series is the brilliant and family-friendly Cardcaptor Sakura. This gem of a magical-girl series is one of the most beloved of its genre and also one of the most creatively made: featuring wonderful animation and a great story. Join Sakura and the rest as they go on their journey to collect the mystical Clow Cards and help to save the world from bigger threats. (Plus, the series contains a memorable theme song with music by Maaya Sakamoto... which for myself, is another big plus for an already impressive series).

>Â

>>Â Â > January 2015 Edition>

>

4) More One Piece Collections & Voyage Sets (DVD) and Film Z (Blu-ray/DVD)

One of the most successful long-form anime series is indisputably One Piece. Though the series hasn't been around as long as The Simpsons has been in America, one can't help but feel that it might become the longest running animated program of all time eventually. The series has had 17 seasons and over 600 episodes (in fact, almost 700 to date). This beloved series is one of the most successful anime series of all time. For the manga publication, the saga has even rivaled in popularity (and sometimes surpassed) Harry Potter for spots on the Japanese all-time bestsellers chart.

If long-form anime is your thing and you haven't started One Piece yet, there's no better time to than now with the One Piece collection sets offering an affordable and convenient means to experiencing this amazing anime creation. There's also some upcoming mega One Piece Collection box-sets with even more episodes to enjoy! Â

Fans who have been sticking with it longer can enjoy the equally exciting One Piece Voyage sets and get new dubbed episodes even faster than before as Funimation's commitment to One Pieces continues to impress in 2014. 2014 also saw the release of the One Piece: Film Z feature-film, adding another of the theatrical productions to the North American line-up. This was a great year for the quirky action-packed and comedic epic extravaganza known as One Piece, with plenty of adventures ahead with Luffy and co. to keep things entertaining in 2015 and beyond.

Â

5) The Adventures of the Fairy Tail Guild (Blu-ray/DVD)

Few anime series have come around in the past several years that have been able to muster up the kind of enthusiasm that Fairy Tail has garnered. The series has managed to ignite the love of so many anime viewers that it's starting to look like Fairy Tail will become one of the longest running series creations someday. Though the series is currently only at 222 episodes made, Fairy Tail has become a powerhouse and the promise of many more episodes seems to be abundant.

Fairy Tail shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon. Funimation has been busy keeping the release of the show consistent as well. With plenty of episodes becoming newly dubbed for the saga's highly dedicated fan-base to enjoy. Whether fans collect the "Part" sets (which are more frequently released) or the re-released collections Fairy Tail will be a blast. 2014 has seen the release of several new Part sets and 2015 promises both Part sets and the continuation of the Collection line. Â That sounds like a cause for celebration.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray. Take a look below.(Note: Click on a link for a full review to read.)

Cowboy Bebop is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It literally has everything you could possibly want in a show; Amazing storytelling, excellent episodic stories that are the best of it's kind, a breathtaking soundtrack, layered, nuanced and well developed characters, it has possibly the best anime dub of all time, and an extremely satisfying conclusion. Cowboy Bebop for me, transcends animation, it's its own genre. There's nothing negative to say about this show, it's one of the best experiences I've ever had watching a show. This deserves no other rating than the DVD Talk Collector's Series.

Sailor Moon is a classic: it remains one of the greatest anime creations of all time. It's a wonderful show for anime fans of all ages and it's filled to the brim with great action, adventure, and characters. Anyone who considers themselves an anime fan should see this amazing series. While the presentation of the Blu-ray suffers by having poor video quality the set's new English dub, a translation effort that is more accurate, and the remastered Japanese audio are all impressive attributes of the release.

Considering the series is finally going to be made available in the United States in a complete form (season five will become available for the first time in North America), the release also feels worth recommending just based on those merits and because of the strength of the series itself. Even though this is a flawed release, the series is worth recommending and for some potential buyers the positive aspects of the set will outweigh the negatives. Consider both elements and decide on a purchase accordingly.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a simple story told extremely well, a story of realization and determination that, though about a young witch, is about as grounded and non-magic in a literal sense as you'll see from Hayao Miyazaki. Charming characters adorn the story of Kiki's ups and down in discovering herself, giving the story a rich backdrop as it sweeps us along with her broomstick rides across a gloriously animated landscape. Disney's new Blu-ray presentation of Kiki's Delivery Service casts quite a spell in high-definition, soaring far beyond the flawed DVDs in accurate audiovisual prowess while retaining most of the supplemental goodies from the re-released package, including the storyboard version of the film and several interviews with Miyazaki and his creative team.

Princess Mononoke is a visually stunning, accessible, and thought-provoking slice of Japanese animation that remains in the genre's top tier more than 15 years after its original release. It's a sprawling and epic adventure loaded with intrigue, mysticism, and a few potent bursts of grisly action, all framed by some of the finest hand-drawn animation in recent memory. Disney's Blu-ray is unfortunately something of a missed opportunity: the "dubtitles" are a half-step backwards for anyone who favors the original Japanese audio, but an impressive A/V upgrade definitely softens the blow a bit (and we even get a few international extras this time around!). Unless you plan on importing a copy from another region, this is still a safe bet...providing the dubtitles aren't a deal-breaker, of course.

Although it's got a fair share of shortcomings, fans of animation will want to check out Welcome to the Space Show just to see the sheer volume of visual and conceptual creativity on hand, which bursts from this film like a jack-in-the-box. The film can be overwhelming at times, but even the slight sickness of taking in so much cinematic sugar won't dampen the overall experience.>

A Letter to Momo down to it's foundation is a breathtaking achievement in animation that doesn't come around very often. The visuals are stunning, it has a beautiful story, well rounded characters, and a great resolution that will leave you satisfied and maybe a little teary eyed.

Like many sci-fi and fantasy films before it (animated or otherwise), Patema Inverted takes a rather conventional story and simply places it in a new and unusual environment. Unfortunately, the lack of an interesting villain and a deflated third act almost spoil the party, but the film's interesting premise and fantastic visuals manage to save what's left. With that said, I could definitely see Patema Inverted as an accessible "gateway drug" for those relatively new to anime, despite some of the film's fundamental shortcomings. Cinedigm's Blu-ray package is slightly above average with a few thoughtful touches, including two high quality audio tracks and separate subtitles for each one, as well as a handful of appropriate bonus features.

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is one hell of a fun flick. For any fan of the Dragon Ball franchise, you need to check it out. The brand new film takes all of the best elements of both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, combines them and the result is a film full of nostalgia, fun characters, some legitimate laugh out loud moments (although a lot do fall flat at the same time), and slick action sequences. It's a film that showcases perfectly why the Dragon Ball franchise has such long lasting popularity.

Without question, Ghost in the Shell is a unique and highly influential slice of Japanese animation that, in almost every regard, has aged quite well during the last 19 years. It's definitely a little overstuffed (even at less than 90 minutes), but the film's twisting plot and mind-bending technology---combined with the film's ambitious visual effects---make this a sporadically satisfying feast for the eyes, ears, and brain, though the sensory experience largely overshadows most of its overcooked dialogue. Anchor Bay's "25th Anniversary" Blu-ray, unfortunately, falls a little short: the A/V is passable with mild reservations, but the lack of new and vintage extras is a total disappointment and almost a deal-breaker. Still, I'd imagine that die-hard fans of Ghost in the Shell will just be happy to have the original "non-2.0" version in 1080p...so if $20 sounds like a fair price for 83 minutes of game-changing animation, it probably is.

>One Piece: Film Z is a solid film. No where near the quality of Strong World but still a good entry. The usual charming cast of characters, a somewhat decent villain, fantastic dub, and the excellent action carry this film.

Cardcaptor Sakura has been one of the most discussed titles regarding the question of whether or not the series would ever get to receive a domestic Blu-ray release. NIS America has done fans of this classic series a solid with the license rescue and release of the entire show in high definition in one swoop with this deluxe premium edition set. I once dreamed that a complete Blu-ray set of Cardcaptor Sakura would be released -- and that it would be released stateside from NIS America, as one of the best anime companies around -- and I am thrilled that this dream came true.

While it's not a set that's absolutely perfect in every regard, this is still undeniably one of the best releases of the entire year. Even having this beloved classic anime series license rescued is great news and a huge deal. It's wonderful that NIS America has made such a strong effort to bring to North America the Japanese Blu-ray presentation of Cardcaptor Sakura. With all 70 episodes of the series (with its three season run), the best presentation of Cardcaptor Sakura to date, a solid lossless Japanese audio presentation, the most complete English dub made, and a gorgeously designed art-box and artbook containing a complete episode guide to the entire series, NIS America's Cardcaptor Sakura - Complete Series (Premium Edition) set is a must own for dedicated anime collector's and fans of the show.Â

Hal is a beautifully done story from start to finish, with characters you can really connect to from your emotional core. At only 56 minutes in length, it's a bit short, but it will tug at your heart strings nonetheless. It has well fleshed out characters and a love story that rivals any you've seen in a anime film prior. This is a film I'd recommend to anyone.

While I won't go so far as to say that Attack on Titan is the best anime ever, it is the best that I've seen in a while. Filled with some very frantic action, an intense story, and some truly surprising twists, it's a show that anime fans should not miss.

Though this second set doesn't quite pack the wallop that the first one did, it's still a pretty decent show. The lack of resolution will disappoint some viewers but even with that the program gives you quite a ride.

]]>2015-01-15T10:28:30-08:002013 Q4 Top Anime Titles from RightStuf.com, Part 1http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/2013_q4_top_5_a.html
2013 Q4 Top Anime Titles from RightStuf.com, Part 1 (sponsored) Our good friends at RightStuf.com wanted to showcase some of the cool anime titles that were released in the last quarter of 2013 and we thought "why not highlight them...13041@http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/2013 Q4 Top Anime Titles
from RightStuf.com, Part 1 (sponsored)
Our good friends at RightStuf.com wanted to showcase some of the cool anime
titles that were released in the last quarter of 2013 and we thought "why
not highlight them in Anime Talk?" This time around Jessica Heemsbergen selects
five titles that she thinks deserves special mention. From outrageous comdey
to touching drama and anime classics, Jessica has selected a great slate
of titles that are all worth a good look. Take a gander at the list and if
any of these shows piques your interest you can find them all, plus a whole
lot more, at RightStuf.com.

Wolf Children is a touching coming of age story that will
pull at your heartstrings. The story expands over 13 years, but the show's
pace never seems slow. My attention was kept from beginning to end. I found
myself laughing and crying with the family throughout the whole movie. I
strongly recommend this title!

Riyoko Ikeda's classic series finally has come
to America! Set in the days leading up to the tumultuous French Revolution,
this story follows Oscar François de Jarjayes, a woman raised to live
as a man, and the struggles she faces as Marie Antoinette's guard and confidante.
As the story progresses, Oscar soon finds that the French Royal Court is
a dangerous place, especially for someone as young and naïve as Marie.
I particularly loved the faithfulness to history The Rose of Versailles has,
and I often found myself reading up on the history of the actual people as
I progressed through the show.

Say, "I Love You" is a breath of fresh air compared
to all the other romance shows out there right now. You don't have to wait
until the 9th episode before something happens in Mei and Yamato's relationship.
I enjoyed watching each character grow and overcome their past hardships
in order to move forward. I thought the show was very relatable and would
strongly recommend this title.

Good Luck Girl! Binbogami ga! is an
outrageously funny series. You can't help, but wonder what crazy situation
the characters are going to get themselves into next. While the story is
simple, the viewers are able to learn a valuable lesson from the show. If
you're looking for a pick me up this holiday season Good Luck Girl! Binbogami
ga! is the way to go.

Accel World is a very interesting show. It takes on the challenge
of addressing how technology has influenced people's lives both positively
and negatively. The negative side is shown by the main characters desire
to escape reality. It also demonstrates how people can become addicted to
technology. Overall the show has a great storyline and enough action to keep
you entertained.

So there you have it, Jessica's picks for 2013 Q4 top anime releases! Stay tuned
for more picks from RightStuf.com coming soon.

]]>

2014-01-21T17:56:12-08:00Holiday Editionhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/holiday_edition.html
Anime Talk December 2012 December 2012 Edition by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews this Holiday Season! The Anime Talk Introduction It&#8217;s time for another installment of DVDTalk.com&#8217;s Anime...12198@http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/Anime Talk December 2012

December 2012 Edition
by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome
back... and enjoy the latest
news and anime reviews this Holiday Season!

The Anime Talk Introduction

It’s
time for
another installment of DVDTalk.com’s Anime Talk column! We have
compiled an excellent
group of reviews to share with our readers this month. We compiled more
reviews
in an effort to bring you a sampling of the best new anime releases
around. This month we bring to you the latest tidings of anime goodness
on the horizon, our list of the best anime releases of 2012, an
interesting sampling of the latest and best reviewed anime titles, and
a post-holiday shopping guide to cure any post-holiday gift blues for
those presents you really wanted but somehow didn't manage to receive.
So sad.

As
reviewers,
we often find ourselves watching loads of anime to find the special
series
worth remembering. We watch both awful and awesome anime series to find
you the
series that are actually worth our readership’s time, investment, and
hard earned
moolah. In other words, remember to look to our column as an indication
of the
best titles available on the anime marketplace. You can find
information here
about the best titles newly released in home incarnations on DVD and
Blu-ray.

The
DVDTalk.com Anime Talk column is a bi-monthly offering
with information on some of the latest anime releases.There
have
been a number of notable new releases over the past two months. Please
check
reviews in the section indicated below to find a sampling of the best
discs
arriving in our reviewing quarters (not that we actually all sit
together in
the same office, divided into a fraction while watching anime 24/7).
Have fun, readers!

WTK's December 2012 TidbitsPresented by
Wen-Tsai King

Leading off toward 2013, FUNimation
Entertainment will be releasing a pair of new licenses that may
be of interest for horror and shonen fans. BLOOD-C (TV) from
Prudction I.G and CLAMP will be released on Blu-ray / DVD combo pack.
The first set of Toriko
will be released on DVD. The series is still ongoing and simulcasted on
FUNimation.com.

Viz Media has also made a wonderful new annoucement for the release of InuYasha The Movie: The Complete Collection,
will will contain all four InuYasha films in a two-disc Blu-ray set to
be released in March next year. It's already available for pre-order!

WTK's Shopping GuidePresented by
Wen-Tsai King

Didn't receive every gift you were
hoping for this Holiday season? Here is a guide of releases to
gift to yourself in the post-holiday season... if you haven't received
these wonderful and overlooked anime gems of 2012!

● anohana: The
Flower We Saw That Day | Review
| A group of childhood friends become estranged due to a tragic
accident. How would they confront the events of the past, present, and
the future? This moving and surprisingly touching series is simply one
of the best anime that NIS America has to offer.

● Infinite Stratos
| Review
| If you are looking for a harem series released in 2012, this Sentai
Filmworks series could definitely fit the bill. While the layout of the
series feel episodic, the element of weaponized combat sport and action
fighting scenes make it even more entertaining. And the nice addition
to this release is the inclusion of a bonus music CD.

● Panda! Go, Panda! | Review
| Studio Ghibli fans, this is one movie release that you would want to
check out. It's a family movie involving a young girl and her panda
family. It's also one of the earlier works from Isao Takahata and Hayao
Miyazaki. It's a definitely a recommended release for the younger
children.

● Redline | A racing
tournment based movie, can it work? I think it can. While the story may
not feel that deep, the animation style and design/environment is
fantastic especially on high-definition. This is just a highly
entertaining movie that can capture your attention. It's definitely
worth checking out.

DVDTalk.com
Presents: The Best Anime Releases of 2012

As
Selected by Neil Lumbard

1) Tenchi Muyo OVA & Tenchi Muyo
Theatrical Films (Blu-ray)

This
is the best anime release of the entire year. Yes, that statement is
for both the OVA and theatrical film releases. Tenchi is one of the
staples of
anime and these newly released box-sets containing the entire OVA and
theatrical films from our favorite harem-comedy series is one of the
best
values and highest quality Blu-ray presentations of the entire year.It’s sure to delight anyone who considers
themselves a massive fan of the Tenchi saga.

2)
Castle in the Sky/Whisper of the Heart/ The Secret World of
Arrietty/Grave
of the Fireflies (Blu-ray)

We
couldn’t pick just one of these excellent Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
releases. All four of these feature films (Castle in the Sky, Whisper
of the
Heart, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Grave of the Fireflies) are
all
essential cinematic experiments and classics in anime. These are four
of the greatest
anime films of all time and each release is worth adding to any anime
fan’s
collection.

3) Kimi ni Todoke V.1-V.3 Premium Editions
(Blu-ray)

Kimi
ni Todoke is the most romantic, sweepingly beautiful, and heartfelt
anime series released in the past year and these three excellent
premium edition
releases by NIS America offer a tremendously satisfying presentation
for one of
the best anime series we’ve ever seen.

4) One Piece Collections & Voyage Sets
(DVD)

One
Piece is one of our favorite anime series and it’s one that we call
always count on for some great comedy, action, and adventure on the
high seas
(and beyond). We were thrilled to find the rerelease “collection” sets
become
available for One Piece fans and we are excited by the continuation of
the Voyage
sets. We enjoy the journey so much and are sure that anime fans will
either
want to jump onboard the series (at last!) or continue this wonderful
saga.

5) Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Blu-ray)

This is easily one of the most
ambitious anime series produced in the
past few years and anyone who hasn’t seen the series yet and considers
themselves an anime fan will at least want to give it a chance, because
there’s
a good possibility that it could wind up a series favorite. The Blu-ray
collections from Funimation offer a tremendous value to fans.

6) K-On: Season 2 (Blu-ray)

K-On
is one of the most charming, entertaining, and “fun” series we
reviewed in 2012. Combine that with the beautiful video/audio on the
Sentai
Filmworks Blu-ray releases and we had one of our top favorites of the
year
overall.

7) Bunny Drop Premium Edition (Blu-ray)

Bunny Drop is one of those rare
anime series that is near-perfection from
beginning to end. It beautifully combines heartfelt storytelling with
strong
characterization and some of the best animation around. The NIS America
set is
a gorgeous release that will delight all series fans.

8) Fairy Tail Part 4 (Blu-ray)

Fairy
Tail is one of our favorite new(ish) series and we were sad to
reach the end of the fourth part released by Funimation. We are
anticipating
future set releases and hope that the dub continues production. This
series has
a fun dub: it’s a great series and a high quality presentation overall.

9) Panda Go Panda (DVD)

One of the early pre-Ghibli
creations that is often overlooked but that
is just as brilliant as any future creations from Miyazaki and
Takahata. These
short two-episode specials are a clear precursor to the creation of My
Neighbor
Totoro and it is a classic tale that will delight anime viewers of all
ages.
The rerelease brings the classic back into print for future generations
to
enjoy time and time again.

10) Digimon Season 1 (DVD)

One of
the best anime series produced for children in the late 90’s and
early 2000’s, Digimon was an entertaining, exciting, and complex series
with
greater storytelling than most children’s fare. This is easily one of
the best
releases of the year. Fans have anticipated a release for years and
it’s nice
to finally have an official product available now. This set is
wonderful for
fans.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look
no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some
of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.
Take a look below.(Note: Click on a link for a
full review to read.)

This
is an unexpectedly good series. The first episode felt like it
was being
strange for the sake of being strange, but after that the story quickly
got
rolling and sucked me in. Before I knew it, I had to get up and
change
discs, then the next thing I knew the first half was over, leaving me
(at least
metaphorically) on my knees, fists raised to sky, screaming that life
was
unfair. I can't wait until the second set is released.
Check this
one out.

Sporadic
in its pacing, mildly generic (by anime standards) in its execution,
and too
drawn out for its own good, Shakugan no Shana is definitely a
show with
some flaws. It is, however, a series with great characters that evolve
and
develop and the story is good enough to carry it along for 24 episodes
(and
them some as evident by future series and other projects).

A
slow paced but enjoyable show, Spice and Wolf is a unique anime series
where
making a profit by trading from town to town takes the center stage
over fights
and action. If you're willing to give it the time to unravel at
its own
pace, you'll find a nice show.

Hellsing
Ultimate is unquestionably the faithful manga translation we've all
hoped
for. The original Hellsing series was a lot of fun, but these
OVA's
overshadow it in every perceivable way. Sure, there's an excessive
amount of
gratuitously violent fan service, but the improved plot, character
backgrounds
and atmosphere finally add some layering and depth to the mix, so Ultimate
is likely to appeal to a wide variety of anime fans.

Anime
fans looking to watch a series now considered a "classic" of the
art-form will be pleased to know that the series contains many
interesting
genre elements, while the longtime, devoted fandom for Nadesico will
be
thrilled to own the series and feature film in this DVD collection
containing both
with gloriously remasteredprints and a generous selection of
supplements. It might be worth renting firstfor newcomers to
the show,
but if you can enjoy a few episodes, there's a good chance you'll want
this set
in your anime collection. This is a stellar Nozomi Entertainment
re-release of
a popular and much loved anime creation.

This
show is a hard one to rate. It is very good for what it is: a clam,
slice-of-life show that takes place in a girl's school. The only
problem is
that I didn't care for shoujo-ai too much. Taking that into account, I
did
enjoy many of the episodes in this set, while I would occasionally roll
my eyes
at some contrived plot devices. In any case I can't say that this
gentle
character driven story isn't worth checking out, so I'll recommend it,
especially to fans of shoujo-ai programs. They shouldn't miss this one.

Tenchi
Universe is one of the best series to exist out of the Tenchi
saga and it is one of the most essential anime productions ever made.
The
artwork isn't truly on par with the earlier OVAs but the writing,
comedy, and characters
are some of the absolute best you will ever find in the genre. If you
love
character-based and original stories this is one show that manages to
interweave both aspects, even despite the fact that it is an
alternate-universe
telling of the original Tenchi OVA's storyline. Simply put, Tenchi
Universe
is outta this world, and a genuine must own DVD release (in one form or
another) by all serious anime connoisseurs.

Tenchi in Tokyo
might not be the
most respected Tenchi
outing, but it has more than
enough creativity and originality to keep viewers interested in seeing
where
the story will go. It also ended on a decidedly high note that wrapped
up the
series in a way that was intriguing and satisfactory. I enjoyed the
show and
would recommend it any Tenchi fan as a fun anime diversion. Just
don’t
expect to find a series that is on par with the original or Universe.

After
the first couple of episodes, I feared that Boogiepop Phantom
would have
been a full pasta bowl of loose ends. Fortunately, the series is all
business -
the violence isn't gratuitous, and absolutely zero time is wasted on
racy skin
or undergarment shots - and things are tied up nicely after all is said
and
done. It's hard to describe exactly what Boogiepop Phantom is,
but
whatever it is, it's good. It's a dark and atmospheric
nightmare that
rivals the palpable uneasiness in earlier seasons of The X-Files,
and
it's an experience that drops its puzzle pieces at such a magnificent
pace,
that you won't be able to see the full picture until the final episode
has
concluded, and that's a large part of what makes this series so
hauntingly
captivating. If you're looking for some anime with substance, something
that
will play with your mind and present many dark, but not entirely
unrealistic
thematic ideas, then Boogiepop Phantom is exactly what you've
been
waiting for (not that the series is new or anything). The series alone
is worth
a high recommendation, but a lackluster A/V presentation and
unimaginative
extras keep a good release from being a great one.

One
Piece is one of the grandest anime adventures. This series manages
to stay
around as a fun ride with great characters and it does so with epic
story-arcs
and amusing side-stories. This set contains a sampling of both elements
with
the conclusion of the Skypiea arc and the beginning (and most of) the
G-8 side
storyline. I loved these episodes, and consider myself to be a huge
fan.

The
only downside to this release is that the set represents the last
collection
from Funimation for the time being. We are likely over a year away from
seeing
any more collection sets because the Voyage sets are still being
released and
it takes time for the series to be dubbed in English. Still, the wait
will be
worth it if you have been collecting One Piece Collection sets.
These
collection releases represent some of the best value for your money in
the
entire anime on DVD market.

Newcomers
should start at the beginning, but for those of you who are already
collecting
these One Piece sets, you can now enjoy another must-have DVD
release of
one of the best anime series around.

K-ON!
is an awesome, rock-tastic series. If you enjoy rock music,
friendship, and
good humor it will be a series that appeals to you and your brand of
enjoyable
coolness.While K-ON! is aimed more at girls than boys
it is a
series that should appeal to both genders and a wide variety of ages
too. Tales
of friendship are timeless, and K-ON! is one of the more
exciting ones
to come out the past few years.

<>This
set contains the second half of season two (episodes 14 through 27) and
fans
will be thrilled with the top-quality nature of these episodes. I was
immensely
pleased, but saddened that this was the last batch of K-ON!
episodes
ever. It's a Blu-ray set that shouldn't be missed by fans. K-ON! will
remain as a true gem of a show that is worth purchasing and cherishing
by
devoted anime lovers everywhere.

As an infrequent follower of anime, I can't say with authority that C:
Control is a purely original series; perhaps it's just a notch
above
average, compared to all the wacky stuff I've missed in recent years.
Either
way, the ambitious visuals and interesting stories overshadow some of
its more
clichéd elements, so those looking for a swift kick in the
occipital lobe
should enjoy what C: Control brings to the table. FUNimation's
Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is decent but expensive, pairing a great A/V
presentation
with only a handful of modest bonus features. A rental might be in
order for
the budget-conscious, but its perceived replay value makes C:
Control a
worthy investment for anime fans.

Serial
Experiments Lain is one of the weirdest anime series of all time.
It sounds
a lot like a big hyperbole to begin with that kind of statement, but I
don't
consider it one. This is genuinely an incredibly odd and offbeat series
with a
twisty sci-fi narrative that questions the path of human existence, the
role of
technology in society, and many philosophical questions about people in
general. This isn't a cookie-cutter anime series or even a massively
plot-driven one. It's a big, weird, and fascinating experience in
thought-provoking anime. It inspired the creation of The Matrix. It
redefined the way many anime fans thought about the genre as a whole.

As
long as you can call yourself a fan of the show, the Blu-ray set is
absolutely
one worthy of a place in your collection. The transfers aren't perfect
- but a
huge part of that is because of the way this series was originally made
in the
first place. I wouldn't expect a better release of the series to ever
be
released. Essentially, this is a definitive collection. The PQ has a
few minor
issues, but the presentation of the packaging and all of the notable
inclusions
here (along with transfers that are still significantly better than the
prior
DVD editions) is something to consider when deciding on a purchase.
Personally,
I still find the series a bit more convoluted than most and wouldn't
necessarily consider it a "must own" show. However, I know that
any fan that is serious about owning Serial Experiments Lain
will want
to have it on Blu-ray in this jazzy, fun, and well-made edition.

Natsume's
Book of Friends is an entertaining series that is worth checking
out for
anime fans, and this premium edition DVD release from NIS America is a
real
winner despite the lack of many on-disc extras. The quality of the
presentation
is good and the packaging is amazing. It definitely is a release that
deserves
consideration. For fans of the anime, this will be an easy
purchase. The set is well worth owning.

]]>2012-12-27T09:54:58-08:00Crunchy Roll, Lupin, and Bunny Drophttp://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/crunchy_roll_lu.html
Anime Talk - January 2012 September 2012 Edition by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews! It&#8217;s time for another installment of DVDTalk.com&#8217;s Anime Talk column! We have compiled an...11981@http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/Anime Talk - January 2012

September 2012 Edition
by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome back... and enjoy the latest
news and anime reviews!

It’s
time for
another installment of DVDTalk.com’s Anime Talk column! We have
compiled an excellent
group of reviews to share with our readers this month. We compiled more
reviews
in an effort to bring you a sampling of the best new anime releases
around.

As
reviewers,
we often find ourselves watching loads of anime to find the special
series
worth remembering. We watch both awful and awesome anime series to find
you the
series that are actually worth our readership’s time, investment, and
hard earned
moolah. In other words, remember to look to our column as an indication
of the
best titles available on the anime marketplace. You can find
information here
about the best titles newly released in home incarnations on DVD and
Blu-ray.

The
DVDTalk.com Anime Talk column is a bi-monthly offering
with information on some of the latest anime releases.
This means that a brand new column release can now be
expected to fall every two months. Not twice a month. Clarification
seemed
necessary because it could be interpreted either way, but we decided to
go forward using
the two month format.

There
have
been a number of notable new releases over the past two months. Please
check
reviews in the section indicated below to find a sampling of the best
discs
arriving in our reviewing quarters (not that we actually all sit
together in
the same office, divided into a fraction). Have fun, readers!

WTK's
September 2012 TidbitsPresented by
Wen-Tsai King

Anime collectors: time to open up your wallets! Aniplex of America
has prepped two Blu-ray collections this fall. It includes Durarara!! (with a
collectible lunchbox) and Bakemonogatari.
Both collections are currently available for pre-order at RightStuf.com
at $149.98 each.

Bandai
Entertainmentannounced
on August 31st that they will be discontinuing all titles available
through home video publishing and distribution effective March 1, 2013.
It's a wake up call to purchase any remaining anime catalog titles that
you still want from them. Select releases could go out of print at any time. There is no 100%
certainty of which series will be license rescued.

A couple of highly anticpated movie releases are scheduled for later
this fall from Sentai
Filmworks. These releases include: Makoto Shinkai’s Children Who Chase Lost Voices (DVD
and Blu-ray) and Isao Takahata's Grave
of the Fireflies on Blu-ray for the first time. Other notable
releases (DVD, Blu-ray) include Ninja
Scroll: The Motion Picture and the first collection of Penguin Drum.

In
other news, VIZ Media's 24/7 PS3 streaming anime station named "Neon Alley" will launch on Tuesday,
October 2nd. The channel is entirely devoted to dubbed anime. The
selection of shows available on the new streaming channel is limited at
this time, but new episodes of dubbed One Piece will be one highlighted
show available through VIZ's partnership with Funimation.

Crunchyroll
Streaming: Service ReviewTaking
a Look at
PS3 Streaming Anime

Review
by Neil Lumbard

Despite
our
love for physically-pressed anime media, we wanted to spend a moment to
talk Crunchyroll.
It’s arguably the best streaming anime service available and with the
new and
exciting availability of premium membership subscription service for
playback
on any PS3 system in North America it’s even more downright cool than
ever
before.

We’ve
decided
to compile a run-down of the service’s pros and cons for users looking
to use
service with the PS3 playback mode.

Pros:

Episodes are added regularly: Weekly for most
series. Newly airing in Japan shows become available less than 24 hours
later
in subtitled form.

Availability
of content. Crunchyroll many not have
all of the series you would ever want. However, it does have an
increasingly
huge selection of shows and will please even the most intensely
dedicated anime
fans. This service includes anime favorites like Naruto, Bleach,
Gundam
(various incarnations), and classic series like Galaxy Express 999
to Sherlock
Hound (a series that involved Hayao Miyazaki and which is currently
OOP within
the US).

Price.
At only $6.95 a month, it’s not a bad deal. You
get a lot of anime to watch for little moolah.
We think it’s a good deal for a streaming service. There are also no
ads
littering the service for premium members. (Free subscribers can watch
online,
but it becomes somewhat limited as a service and it cannot be accessed
through
the PS3 if subscribed to the premium service option).

Cons:

Streaming
quality isn’t in High Definition yet.
This could be a deal-breaker for some. Certainly, it’s something which
makes us
consider the value of the service to become dampened somewhat. Once the
high definition
viewing options become implemented with Crunchyroll’s PS3 service it
should be
able to earn a few extra brownie points in regards to streaming
quality. High
Def playback is supposed to roll-out later this year.

Things
have been a bit buggy so far and we don’t
know when the system will work 100% of the time on all models of the
PS3 system.
Certain PS3 owners have had more playback issues than other
subscribers.
Recently, an update what applied to the software that fixed many of the
issues.
However, I still experienced some occasionally “off” motions on the
video
quality playback. Keep in mind that this has already been tinkered
with,
improved, and that the service quality is decent but still in need of
some
added support and updates.

It
needs an easier navigation system. Browsing
through the catalog of shows with the currently setup of left to right
or right
to left browsing is a bit tedious without it being organized as
efficiently (or
in as many categorizations) as it could be. It’s simple and sleek
looking but
it could use some added options and tweaks.

Bottom
Line:

As
something
to supplement your DVD and Blu-ray collection, Crunchyrolloffers viewers an amazing way to sample
series and even watch them from beginning to end with the massive &
growing
catalog. The best thing about the service is that it features series
that are
brand new to Japanese airwaves and that it bridges the release gap in
North
American audiences getting fast access to these series. It’s almost
as
if you really are watching the series exactly as they air in Japan.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look
no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some
of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.
Take a look below.(Note: Click on a link for a
full review to read.)

Lupin is
one of the greatest anime characters of all time. The
early episodes directed by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are
fantastic to
behold. If you consider yourself an anime fan this special DVD
collection of
the first two seasons (the original Lupin
episodes) is a must watch. Fans of The Castle of Cagliostro
will love
this collection. Consider it a worthwhile purchase.

This is an excellent show and one of the top anime series that I've
seen in
years. Though only 11-episodes in length, the program puts enough
character development and plot in for a show 4 times as long.
Sweet,
touching, and more than a little tear-jerking, anohana: The
Flower We
Saw That Day comes very highly recommendation.

Bunny
Drop is
one of the
most unique anime series I have had the opportunity to see. It reminded
me of
something that might be found broadcast on PBS, besides the fact that
it is
definitely an "anime series"; a genre that PBS doesn't produce. This
would be an excellent series to watch with family members of any age.
The story
is compellingly told and here is a series which is capable of being
something
different from your typical anime TV series. It is a show for the
entire family
and that certainly makes it an interesting experience. Bunny Drop
is a
quality television program worth seeking out and purchasing because of
NIS
America's excellent release.

<>I
know some might not feel inclined to
give the show a reasonable chance because of the lack of an English dub
and
because of the fact that this is a romantic anime. Guys especially might
worry that it's a show only for girls. I find that idea silly.

>
<> This
is one of the best anime series I
have seen over the past several years. This isn't a series that is
going to
appeal to everyone, of course, but if you are even remotely a fan of
anime you
owe it to yourself to check out this show and soon.

I think that a wide
range of people would love this series. It is one of the best in it's
genre.
The story is heartwarming, the animation stellar, and the presentation
is first
rate. It's entirely worthwhile and a necessary purchase for fans of the
show.

Panda!
Go, Panda! is a
cute early
effort from Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The two short cartoons
about a
young girl and her panda family are made for younger viewers, but are
fun
enough that most adults will like them, too--especially the Ghibli
fans. Though
not as good as My Neighbor Totoro, you can definitely see how
these
sweet little films eventually led the filmmakers to make that classic
animated
feature.

K-ON!
is an
awesome, rock-tastic series. If you enjoy rock music,
friendship, and good humor it will be a series that appeals to you and
your
brand of enjoyable coolness.While K-ON! is aimed more
at girls
than boys it is a series that should appeal to both genders and a wide
variety
of ages too. Tales of friendship are timeless, and K-ON! is one of the
more
exciting ones to come out the past few years.

This
set contains the first thirteen
episodes of season two (which is half of the season) and it also offers
a better
value than the Bandai released single-volume releases made available on
Blu-ray
for the show's first season. Given the significantly lower cost and the
high
quality of the series, viewers should enjoy adding this excellent anime
release
to their collections. It is well worth purchasing.

I've
been a fan of Dragon Ball Z
for well over a decade, and I've seen all 291 episodes multiple times
in both
English and Japanese. This unfortunately gave me a negative
bias towards
Dragon Ball Z Kai, but now that I really can't justify sitting
down to
watch that much television over a reasonable amount of time, the option
of Kai
was looking pretty good. I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong, and,
well, I
was wrong. The new script, editing and splicing really served the
second season
better than I ever could have imagined. Surprisingly, none of the main
story or
character arcs seemed to suffer in the least. There were hardly any
instances
where the editing failed to be seamless, and the newly recorded
dialogue is the
best yet.

I
would advise those uninitiated with
the series to try to get their hands on all 291 episodes so they don't
rob
themselves of what's probably the more rewarding experience, but if you
just
can't justify setting aside that much time or money, Dragon Ball Z
Kai
is perfect for vets and newcomers alike.

What do you think about the column? Like what you
see? Don't like it? Have a comment or suggestion?
Drop us an e-mail and let us
know!

Welcome!
Dear readers, we now present you with our July 2012 Anime Talk column.
I’m sure
some of you have noticed that it’s been a while since the last column
was
released. We’ve met some unfortunate setbacks over here at the column
and that’s
an issue of relatively colossal or compellingly
bizarre importance to us and we hope you will bear with us while we
reexamine
our own writing patterns and bring you some news tidbits and more! We love this column in many ways. (Don’t
misinterpret that line, please.)

Let’s
begin this month’s write-up by making one aspect of the Anime Talk
column quite
clear: this is something we are dedicated to continuing, but we’ve
decided to
shift the release plans from what those used to be. The column was at
one point
meant to be a monthly release. It actually was for a while. That was
before setbacks
eventually drove us all off course and it became more sporadic a
release. Bummer,
dudes and dudettes, but we hope our newly-ish minted plans will
suffice.

It
didn’t do anyone any good to not know
when a new column would be released. We want to strive to keep anime
fans
informed on the latest and best releases on DVD and Blu-ray media and
to keep
people aware of the coolest, most fantastic anime news in general
arriving at
the airwaves and what-have-you’s.

The
DVDTalk.com Anime Talk column will now be released bi-monthly.
This means that a brand new column release can now be
expected to fall every two months. Not twice a month. Clarification
seemed
necessary because it could be interpreted either way, but we decided to
attempt
the two month biz ourselves.

There’s
been an onslaught of news lately that has taken us by surprise. Anime
is about
to be experiencing some neat new things in the coming future. Or,
rather, anime
fans are about to experience some cool new ways of enjoying their
favorites and
the best of the latest. This is because of a number of things.

First
of all, Toonami is back on the air.
This is revolutionary news. I hope you get the cool reference to the
heyday of
the anime and action cartoon block! Longtime cable channel by generally
well-known name of “Cartoon Network”
ran a block for years with a host by the fantastic name of Tom, who
looked a
bit like a cyber space-pilot mixed with an action hero.

Viewers
were treated to an eclectic mix of the best of anime and action series
like no
other television broadcast had ever offered viewers in the United
States before
(and ever since – understandably in argumentative fashion). The block
of
programming made an amazingly awesome banner for the kinds of series it
contained. It was the birthplace of a great many animation and anime
fans
(especially the latter). It was the most hip and happenin’ block
anywhere on
TV. It was what introduced some of our own DVD Talk writers to fandom.
Welcome
back, Tom (and Toonami)! We’ve missed you.

The
block will need to shape up some to
continue to survive the new landscape of anime releasing and viewership
expectations. I think the fact that the block has so few notable
acquisitions
for new programming is a detriment to the lifecycle of the block
managing
successfully to continue on. As far as ideas for block staples, it
seems as
though there a significant number of series from Funimation that would
make
perfect additions.

There
definitely should be some room for series like One Piece
and Fairy Tail at
least!

Toonami
also has some
additional competition coming. The already massively popular
subscription
service Crunchyroll (which allows
subscribers to see newly-created anime) announced recently that it will
launch
a PS3 app for viewing HD content before summer eventually reaches its
close. This
service lets people see new anime series only one hour following
Japanese
television broadcasts, and with English subtitles. You also have some
amazing
access to a wide-range of series already concluded. That ranges from
all of
those legendary series such as Naruto
and Bleach to classic staples like Gundam.
It’s only $6.99 monthly for a
premium subscription. Not a bad deal.

VIZ
Media has also announced plans to launch a 24-hour anime channel that
streams
to a popular gaming device (still awaiting announcement). Even more
options for
anime fans! Surprisingly, the idea is to be programmed-based where the
channel
follows a traditional schedule like a television network on Cable. I
think the
idea is brilliant and could meet an overwhelmingly positive response…
but only
if VIZ manages to convince some of those different anime distributors
to
contribute to the growth of the channel.

If
it doesn’t then I legitimately
wonder who will be up for the channel.

VIZ’s
anime channel’s has been named Neon Alley
and it is currently slated to only air English dubbed production when
it reaches its debut later
in the year.

What
about also offering viewers a select block of Japanese subtitled
programs though? Newly airing-in-Japan programs and recent classics
like Kimi ni Todoke would
make excellent additions.

WTK's
July 2012 TidbitsPresented by
Wen-Tsai King

Aniplex of America: After much requests Baccano! (Blu-ray) and Oreimo (DVD) will be
coming back in-print this summer. Look for Bakemonogatari (Blu-ray) and
the Garden of sinners (DVD) later this fall.

If
you actually managed to be patient enough to
not investigate purchasing some United Kingdom, Hong Kong, or
Japanese
Blu-ray’s of the Studio Ghibli films that were still in essential need
of
release in North America your waiting paid off with some solid releases
recently made available by Disney.

The
mouse house finally got around to releasing some more of the Studio
Ghibli catalog
with the Blu-ray releases for Castle in
the Sky, Whisper of the Heart,
and newcomer The Secret World of Arrietty
arrived too.

If
you can’t resist the wait, though, Japan has already released the
latest Ghibli
film on Blu-ray in an English friendly edition (with subtitles) for
Goro
Miyazaki’s latest From Up on Poppy Hill.
It features a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki. You can order it online here.

Take
a look at our DVD Talk reviewer’s opinions on the recent releases:

An
unlikely blending of Japanese anime with John Denver's iconic
"Take
Me Home, Country Road," Whisper of the Heart (Mimi o sumaseba,
or "If You Listen Closely," 1995) is another mesmerizing, positively
unique feature from Studio Ghibli, the animation studio behind such
films as My
Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, and Princess
Mononoke.
Studio Ghibli is one of those companies that, so far, virtually can do
no
wrong. Almost everything they've touched has been excellent, both
visually and
in terms of stories, themes, and characterizations, and Whisper of
the Heart
is but another superlative example.

Studio
Ghibli's Castle in the Sky is one of the best animated films of
the
1980s, bursting at the seams with mystery, imagination, humor and
terrific
characters. Disney's Combo Pack features a stellar visual presentation
as
expected, but the lack of new bonus features (not to mention the
unfortunate
use of "dubtitles") definitely brings it down a notch. Even so, this
is a great family film worth owning---so if you're interesting in
experiencing Castle
in the Sky in high def, now's your chance.

The
Secret World of Arrietty
doesn't inspire the sort of wonder
and hushed awe that I've come to expect from Studio Ghibli's films,
instead
taking a quieter, more gentle, and ultimately less memorable approach.
I
greatly enjoyed the film, and I'm astonished as ever at the majesty and
beauty
of Ghibli's animation, but The Secret World of Arrietty isn't
the
lingering, revelatory experience so frequently associated with the
studio.
Still, even lesser Ghibli outclasses most animation the world over, and
The
Secret World of Arrietty captures enough of that magic to ensure
that this
Blu-ray disc very much comes Recommended.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look
no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some
of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.
Take a look below.(Note: Click on a link for a
full review to read.)

One
Piece
continues to do something that I never expected from
the series when I started it: the series continues to find new ways to
keep
things fresh, interesting, and satisfying. I love these characters, the
animation, and the sense of new adventures that is unparalleled in any
other
anime. The reason why One Piece is one of Japan's most popular
anime
series in history is so easy to understand. It's because it's actually
the best
ongoing series to date.

<>Fans who
have continued to support the series by purchasing these collection
sets will
have a blast with Collection 6. The series is as brilliant as always.
If you
haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet now is the perfect time to do so.
Seek out
all of these collection releases. Just remember to start at the
beginning. (Also
see: One
Piece: Collection Fivereviewed).

House of
Five Leaves is a
very good
drama that's enhanced by the excellent care that has gone into the
release by
NIS America.

This is a high quality release
all
around. From the packaging to the menus to anime itself,
everything about
this set was top notch. An anime that I really enjoyed and one
that I'm
sure I'll re-watch soon, it is well worth checking out.

Kimi ni
todoke may very well be the best romantic anime
series I
have ever seen. It's one that can easily be considered a top-contender.
There
is no disappointing area to the series and it can be recommended with
great
enthusiasm. It has the kind of emotional power to give viewers the
butterflies
that other shows are never quite capable of delivering to the
audience.

Simply
put: If you truly consider the anime craft an art form this essential
romance
series has enough wonderful characters and animation to satisfy even
the most
critical of anime fans.

Combine
with absolutely stunning PQ/AQ, and fancy packaging and a purchase does
seem to
be a must for anime collectors. Expect a review for the third and final
volume
to be out soon!

The
final collection of
Season One episodes of Fairy Tail has arrived and it doesn't
disappoint
at all! It even surpassed all of my expectations and wound up being the
best of
all four collection releases by Funimation Entertainment to date. The
characters are easily some of the most entertaining in recent anime (a
massive
selling point), and the scenarios and magic backdrops help an excellent
experience become the perfect match for anime fans.

We
need to continue
supporting Fairy Tail releases if we
want Funimation to continue to dub and release quality sets and with a
nice
turnaround time too. Fans accustomed to following the series will be
pleased.
Newcomers? Begin at the beginning of the series, and enjoy.

Hetalia is
hilarious. I
had more laughs with this DVD set than any other anime I've ever seen.
It's complete
lack of a coherent plot and frantic pacing affects its watchability
over long
time periods--take this 52 episode set in 20-30 minute doses when
you're pining
for a laugh. Preferably with your favorite adult beverage (Kirin
Ichiban mixes
phenomenally well with Hetalia).

Look, Infinite
Stratos is not a high-brow, multilayered story. When it dips its
foot in
those waters, it feels out of place and the scenes falls flat. At its
core this
series is pure, simple fun. Its humor is similar in spirit to other
popular
harem series. If you can imagine an amalgamation of Tenchi,
Hetalia,
Fighting Spirit, Evangelion, and Vandread then you might
conjure
something close to this series. It takes successful elements of many
popular
shows and mashes them into a highly watchable series. The extra OVA
episode is
not enough. I demand more Infinite Stratos!

This was
a
fun and enjoyable series. The characters were delightful, the
animation
was good, and the plot was much more developed than I expected.
Add to
that NIS America's excellent packaging which includes a very nice
hardcover
book and you've got a can't-miss set.

Arakawa
Under the
Bridge didn't
quite manage to equally match the first
season... it's still a beautiful anime with an immensely lush world of
remarkable animation, solid characters, and comedic moments.

The
pricing for the Premium Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo release is expensive
but
worth it, and more so considering the excellent video/audio
presentation in
combination with collector-worthy packaging and an art-book with plenty
of
material.

Princess
Jellyfish
latches onto a group of unrepentently geeky women in Tokyo and slathers
on a
gleefully surreal streak. The end result is a series that's really
sweet,
extremely funny, teeming with personality, and is rightly more
fascinated with
its small army of really strong characters than it is in overly
familiar anime
tropes. It's one of the only anime series I've come across that passes
the
Bechdel Test, revolving around strong female characters who aren't
tossed in
there to fall in love, aren't ever exploited for shameless cheesecake,
and
aren't told that they have to act a certain way or look like a cover
girl to be
women.

Princess
Jellyfish
manages to be both cute and feminist, two great tastes that
seem like
they'd be pretty tough to get to taste great together, and that head-on
collision somehow works beautifully here. I fell pretty hard for Princess
Jellyfish from its very first episode, and it's without a doubt one
of the
most distinctive and unique anime series I've ever come across.

While
Sekirei doesn't
break any new ground in terms of action or harem shows, it is a fun,
short
12-eisode anime that fun to watch. There are some good battles
and some
funny bits and it doesn't overstay its welcome.

Fullmetal
Alchemist: Brotherhood is excellent, and in some ways
better than the original. It's not just telling the same story
once more;
it expands the tale with new characters and situations. I was
floored
after watching this first collection. Both fans who enjoyed the
original
anime and those who are who are new to the series should strap
themselves in
for a great time. This is a great, great, show. Whether you've
seen the
original anime series or not, you owe it to yourself to check this show
out.

Occult
Academy.
This show,
about a time traveler who arrives at a school for the occult in order
to
prevent an imminent alien invasion has the right mix of adventure,
mystery, and
comedy for a short but sweet show. I really had fun watching OccultAcademy.
It
ended up being much better than I was expecting. Running only 13
episodes
in length, the show manages to put a lot of story into that time frame
and the
result is a program that is full with characters that are nicely
fleshed
out. With a nice mix of adventure, humor, and mystery as well as
a
conclusion that doesn't leave things hanging, this is a show that's
worth seeking
out.

Okami-San
and Her
Seven Companions
is a pretty straightforward genre anime
show. You have a school-setting with the Otogi Academy being the place
of
education and there's something that seems unusual about most of these
school
students. There's a school club where the students of Otogi are willing
to do
useful tasks requested of fellow students and the price is that the
club be
paid for the services at some point in time. Pricing isn't discussed as
much,
though. It is in this club that Okami-san resides. She is
strong-willed,
intelligent, and a leader of the group. Joining her in these quests to
help
fellow students are her friends and a school-boy who crushes on her the
entire
show. Most of the characters go on little quests throughout the show
and
adventures ensue.

Okami-San
and Her
Seven Companions
is a cute, lighthearted, and charming
series. Too bad things don't seem to go much of anywhere. The
characters are
entertaining but lack depth in development. The plotline is barely
existent.
While I don't hesitate to recommend renting it, seeing the entire
series may
prove unsatisfactory to some degree. Only purchase if you have viewed
the
entire series and are a fan of collector packaging (this set is
beautiful to
behold).

Imagine
a world in which
the video-games you played were not merely about pressing down buttons
in a
repetitive-like manner on plastic key-pads to earn high scores and
bonus
points. Instead, try to visualize what it would mean to have a
video-game
focused entirely upon the possibility for interactivity. That is
a
question of essential importance to .hack// Quantum.

.hack//Quantum
is essentially a motion-picture. Technically, it's a three
episode OVA
but it does flow almost entirely as a movie would. This effort
should be
pleasing for longtime .hack fans as well as for newbies just
getting
started on the franchise. The story is exciting, the characters are
well
developed, and the entire thrill ride is a blast from start to finish.
Funimation has outdone themselves with very impressive PQ/AQ (even more
so for
the English language dub), and a bucket-load of extras. In Yoda speak:
Have
fun, you will.

Cat
Planet Cuties
(Asobi ni Ikuyo) brings more to the table
than many sets of ample breasts (unlike other series that shall remain
named
earlier in this review.) Yet another harem anime, this show surrounds
nerdy Kio
with not only Aoi and Manami, a pair of girls who want him, yet can't
let
themselves show it, but a buxom alien cat woman named Eris, who is more
than
willing to make her affection for the guy known. Of course, as is par
for the
harem course, Kio is debilitated by his shyness regarding the girls,
and freaks
out any time there's a bit of contact or a flash of flesh. It may help
drag out
the tangled romances a bit, keeping him from pouncing on the first
available
girl, but it gets tired seeing a guy lose it whenever he sees a breast.

Approaching
this series, the main appeal was as obvious as the lumps on Eris'
chest, but
after watching the set, it became clear that it offered more than
T&A-powered laughs and titillation. Even if it was still silly
harem anime
at its core, at least it's funny. The set presents the show in
beautiful
quality, and throws in a few entertaining extras to boot, making it
easy to
recommend this set to anyone who enjoys curvy cartoons, male wish
fulfillment,
exciting action and fun comedy.

What do you think about the column? Like what you
see? Don't like it? Have a comment or suggestion?
Drop us an e-mail and let us
know!

]]>2012-07-11T07:40:29-08:00One Piece and DBZ on Bluhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/one_piece_and_d.html
January 2012 Edition by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai One Piece Collection DVD Set's... here we come! It's been a bit too long since the last column! We've been going through tons of anime titles here at DVDTalk...11410@http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/

January 2012 Edition
by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

One Piece Collection DVD
Set's... here we come!

It's been a bit too long since the last column! We've been going
through tons of anime titles here at DVDTalk and it's been a
pleasure to be able to check out some great releases over the past
month. Perhaps the most exciting new releases we have seen recently
are the new re-releases of the classic anime Dragon Ball Z on the Blu-ray format. Or how about
the awesome One Piece
collection sets containing two Voyage DVD releases in one? Then we
really got into the new Fairy
Tail releases... the episodes are just so much fun and we
can't seem to get enough of 'em! We even saw the conclusion of two
favorites: Yu Yu Hakusho Season
4 arrived on Blu-ray and Revolutionary Girl Utena received it's final
artbox set of goodness on DVD.

The anime industry is in a peculiar place at the moment.
Everyone at DVD Talk has noticed this growing trend. Studios
that manufacture and release DVD and Blu-ray anime sets are
suffering and it's largely due to a decrease in demand. Anime is
becoming more of a niche segment of the population and this
leads to a lack of sales amongst less serious and devoted fans.
Bandai Entertainment announced that while they will retain the
rights until they expire to their current catalog of series that
no more DVD or Blu-ray's will become available from them in the
future (with the exception being titles already scheduled for
February -- like the second half of the original Gundam. Phew!),
and this is certainly not news that anyone is happy about. No
Turn A Gundam. And what happens to the possibility of favorites
like Cowboy Bebop or Outlaw Star becoming available on Blu-ray
to stateside fans? We'll have to wait it out and see. Other
companies have seen cutbacks of employees in dramatic numbers
and one of the biggest anime companies in America is now suing
several other anime studios over financial issues that will
ultimately affect the audience -- in both good and bad ways.
Having said all of that, this is partially a long-winded way of
us trying to remind the diehards out there that the anime DVD
purchases you make do have a considerable impact on the industry
stateside. We want to see our favorite series continue to be
imported and released. We always hope for Blu-ray upgrades of
favorites and fancy packaging for the coolest new show around.
It's part of being an anime fan and collector, so do yourself a
favorite and consider how much joy is derived from the anime
distributed by the likes of Funimation and RightStuf and support
the hard-work of these companies with your continued purchases.
The loyal following is the best kind of following to have and
right now the continued support of those who treasure the anime
art form the most is not only needed, but it's well appreciated.
I mean, come on... dude! There's so many great releases coming out each week.
It makes us so happy to be able to cover these awesome titles
for everyone so that people can continue to find out about the
best anime series out there and enjoy them as much as we have. This is all
coming from one anime fan to another.

Now on another note... involving importing
titles outside of North America. We realize it's ironic! But one of
our writer/reviewers, Neil Lumbard, noticed that Australia has
complete season sets of the entire Pokemon anime series (English dubbed only though).
This seems like an excellent way to view the entire show. It's had a
bad track-record here in the States with many random-episode
releases and only a few sets. None of these DVD's have really
presented the show in the way it deserves to be seen. You can order
them from JB
Hi-Fi and for anyone looking for the first few films in
anamorphic widescreen as well (again, with English language audio)
you can import the recently released Japanese DVD re-releases at a
"bargain" price (Not really, but it still might be worthwhile
considering the films are technically OOP on DVD in the US). Those
can be found through YesAsia.
Thus concludes our random free promotion for import Pokemon DVD releases. Keep in
mind that you need a Region Free DVD player that is capable of
playing these Region 4 discs.

Disney
has continued to not announce more Studio Ghibli titles on
Blu-ray. Whisper
of the Heartis now available in High Definition
in the United Kingdom. You will need a Region Free Blu-ray player
capable of playing Region B Blu-ray discs.

Looking for affordable anime following the post-Christmas season? We
sorta figured you might still have some titles to purchase, like the
ones that you included on a wish-list but might still be needing to
pick up because it just didn't work out gift-wise for some strange
reason. The S.A.V.E. (Super Amazing Value Edition) product line from
FUNimation Entertainment is one possibility. The product line
launched back in 2010, and offers a wide range of anime DVD and
Blu-ray releases from MSRP of $9.98 to $34.98.

● Bamboo Blade |
Part
1 Review - Are you looking for a sports anime that's a bit
different? Bamboo Blade may fit the bill. It's a fun, slice of life
kendo anime that may even interest the non-sport anime fans.

● Heroic Age (DVD
/ Blu-ray) | BD
review - One of the better space opera anime by XEBEC in
recent years involving mecha. One of the unique aspects of the
series is its blend of mythological concepts.

● Mushi-Shi | Vol.1
Review - A wonderfully animated series that's different than
most anime released in the U.S. in the last couple years. And if you
add supernatural beings (mushi) to the setting and some folklore
based ideas, you get a very unique series.

● Romeo x Juliet
| Part
1 Review - An anime series loosely based on William
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It's more than just love and
tragedy. Are you ready to look at Romeo and Juliet with a different
perspective?

● Shuffle! | Original
Boxset Review - A worthwhile series to look at for the harem
genre fans. Even with parts that feel clichéd, the series can
still be cute and fun to watch with some serious dramatic moments
mixed in.

WTK's January News TidbitsPresented
by Wen-Tsai King

Aniplex of America recently announced their latest direct Japanese
import release plans for Fate/Zero,
the prequel to Fate/stay Night (previously licensed by Geneon
Entertainment USA). The first of two Blu-ray boxsets is scheduled
for a 3/7/2012 release (retailed at $498.98). Some of the extras
include bonus CDs and production material booklet.

In late November, online retailer RightStuf.com announced that anime
classic: Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) is going out
of print (originally licensed by ADV Films). It's uncertain
when the TV series will be license rescued by another North American
distributor. Two version of the ADV boxsets are still available at
RightStuf.com: platinum
collection (thinpak) and holiday edition.
It's time to pick up this series if it't not in your anime library
already. Bandai's lisence of Wolf's Rain has also expired and
unfortunately the series has gone out of print. Pick it up if you
can find it while you still might be able to.

The
Latest DVDTalk Anime Reviews(Note: Click on a link for a full review to read.)

"One Piece
was
one of my favorite surprises of 2011. The show
has had many "Voyage" box set releases over the years but I
had
yet to check it
out. I had read several volumes worth of the manga so it
surprised me to
realize it took me this long to see the anime at last. It
surpassed my relatively
high expectations. This is one of the best and most
entertaining
anime series I
have ever seen, and I have watched tons
of anime series. If you are an anime fan that is just
starting
to get into One Piece,
haven't seen it, or haven't
begun collecting the prior DVD releases these new Collection
set's offer a
substantial value. Funimation's One Piece
Collection's belong in the library of any and every anime
fan." - Neil Lumbard

Definitely not your ordinary anime show, Revolutionary
Girl Utena is a strange
yet compelling program and one that's definitely worth
checking out.The newly restored
video makes this an easy
one to give a highly recommended
rating to, but only for those who are looking for something a
bit
bizarre and
off the beaten path. - John
Sinnott

The second collection of Fairy Tail episodes is even more entertaining
than
I expected. The
first episodes of the show were so enjoyable but lacking in
character
development. While I still have a feeling that there is a
lot
more to learn
about these characters it was surprising then that several
episodes helped
develop Gray's character. The show is extremely funny, cool,
and
entirely worthwhile.
This is absolutely recommended. - Neil Lumbard

"The Second Collection of One Piece episodes is even more satisfying
and
adventurous than the
first collection was. Considering the fact that the first
set
turned me into a
massive fan of the series that is no small accomplishment
and
viewers should
expect to feel glued into their seats. Once one episode is
done
another one
should inevitably begin. I wonder how fans in Japan ever
managed
to wait week to
week to see the events unfold. The storyline was that
suspenseful and exciting.
The characters have become more firmly established, and
the path
towards the
Grand Line begins. Don't hesitate to take the journey with
the
Straw Hat
pirates and purchase this essential anime collection."- Neil Lumbard

As nice of an idea as Dragon Ball Z Kai
was (with the 'no filler' technique and all), I personally
feel it took away one of the greatest strengths from the
series as a whole - The sagas all made use of the (very) slow
burn technique, but that's what made many of the big reveals
such a big payoff. You invested your time hanging on the edge
of your seat, and in the end you were greatly rewarded. Kai
offers all the payoff with little build-up or viewing
discipline, and in my opinion, greatly reduces the effect of
many of the best moments the series has to offer. I waited a
long time for a release to cure my 'not ready to buy DBZ yet'
woes, and I wasn't going to settle for Kai. Thanks to
the first Dragon Ball Z: Level release however,
especially considering how pristine it looks after such
meticulous restoration, I simply cannot wait to get my hands
on the rest. Film damage has practically been eradicated and
the original color timing and OAR have been flawlessly
preserved. What more could you ask for? Well, I guess it would
be nice if FUNimation gave us more than 17 episodes per
release, as that doesn't even really give us half a
saga/season. It's a minor complaint however, as I feel the
quality takes precedence over the quantity. Add in the fact
that all of your audio preferences are now contained in a
single package, and this is a DBZ release I can finally
highly recommend to the masses. - Michael Zupan

"After viewing 78 episodes in one
month (25 episodes
of which are from this set) the fact that I can honestly say
I
am not getting
even the slightest bit sick of watching One
Piece seems to help reaffirm just how awesome a series
this truly is. I can't
wait to dig into the next collection box-set to see even
more of
the adventures
of Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and the rest. If you
have
seen One Piece
before
then you probably feel
the same way about the series. It's one of the most
enjoyable and
engaging anime series! Funimation continues to do an amazing
job
with these
collections (each of which gives dedicated fans exactly what
they want).
Newcomers are naturally encouraged to begin viewing the show
with Collection 1
while everyone else is encouraged to continue with
Collection 3.
This series is
so good it might even be wise to purchase multiple
collection
releases at once
simply to guarantee that you don't run out of amazing
adventures
to watch.
Seriously... take note anime fans. The show's that good."- Neil Lumbard

It's a little frustrating that FUNi decided
to leave the first season's final five episodes for Level
2.1. It makes no sense to... well, anyone. All in all
though, this is still a no brainer for fans of Dragon Ball
Z. This is the original series in all of its uncut
glory, and FUNimation has given us the plethora of choices
we've always craved. Want the US broadcast experience you fell
in love with? Check. Want the English audio with the superior
Japanese score instead? Can do. How about the original Japense
production with English subtitles? Not a problem. Furthermore,
this is the best that Dragon Ball Z is ever going to
look and sound - The original aspect ratio has been preserved,
and the film grain has been left intact to leave detail
unhindered. This looks like film (appropriate as the series is
on 16mm film), and the 5.1 English track is surprisingly
robust. Contextually, the episodes included in this batch of
episodes are far more exciting than Level 1.2's
predecessor. - Michael
Zupan

Dirty Pair
was
way more fun than I was expecting. It's definitely
considered a classic anime series with good reason. The
characters are a joy
and the stylistic aspects of the production excel far beyond
any
ordinary
series. This DVD rerelease by Nozomi Entertainment contains
an
impressive
presentation and it is well worth adding to any anime fan's
growing collection. -
Neil Lumbard

Yu Yu
Hakusho's final
season contains some of the best episodes in
the entire series. While there is a definite feeling of
sadness to see
such a
wonderful series come to an end it was also satisfying to
realize that
it
reached an acceptable conclusion that adequately resolves
most of the
elements
fans would want to see concluded. In the end, it was the
characters
that made
the show such a wonderful journey to take and the
destination is a
bright light
following a long path frequently deterred by despair and
only salvaged
by hope.
The final episodes prove surprisingly philosophical and
contemplative
while remaining
in the action packed style fans have come to know and love.
These
Blu-ray
upgrades continue to be worthwhile in Video and Audio
aspects and the
inclusion
of bonus features is surprising. Fans will undoubtedly want
to collect
all four
season sets of Yu Yu Hakusho on
Blu-ray. There has been no finer re-release of a classic
anime series
in 2011. An essential set. - Neil Lumbard

What do you think about the column? Like
what you
see? Don't
like it? Have a comment or suggestion? Drop us an
e-mail
and let us know!